After a heated debate over the water tariff hike, which saw the opposition Congress and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party councillors coming face-to-face in the well of the House several times, the Chandigarh municipal corporation on Tuesday resolved to roll it back.
The old rates, in effect before the UT administration notified the hiked water tariff in September 2020, will continue till the Covid-19 pandemic lasts, the House stated in its resolution.
With residents already getting inflated water bills, the MC House decided that these would be adjusted in subsequent bills.
After the pandemic gets over, the MC House proposed a partial rollback to the September hike (see box).
The resolution will now be sent to the administration for its approval and withdrawal of the notification.
Notably, this is the third resolution and second within six months, in which the MC has sought reduction in water tariff rates after its initial December 2019 resolution to increase it.
Admn had asked MC to reconsider rollback resolution
In September 2020, the administration had notified up to threefold hike in water tariff, depending upon the category of users and consumption level.
{{/usCountry}}In September 2020, the administration had notified up to threefold hike in water tariff, depending upon the category of users and consumption level.
{{/usCountry}}After facing a public outcry and criticism from the opposition, the MC House had passed a resolution in October, asking the administration to withdraw the notification and stick to the existing rates till the pandemic lasts.
However, the administration this year asked the MC to reconsider its resolution, citing the huge revenue losses in water supply management.
BJP-Cong indulge in blame game, commissioner opposes move
During the debate, Congress and BJP councillors exchanged heated jibes. The House proceedings were disturbed when Congress councillors offered bangles to BJP councillors, who in turn presented them with lotus flowers. Both groups kept shouting “shame, shame” against each other.
Demanding a rollback, Congress councillor and leader of opposition Devinder Singh Babla criticised BJP for imposing the hike. During the entire House proceedings, Chandigarh Congress president Subhash Chawla sat on a dharna outside the House.
Chandigarh BJP chief and councillor Arun Sood said: “Rates should not be increased till the Covid-19 pandemic lasts. After that, it should be increased only gradually, so that there is no financial burden on residents. MC’s financial health should also be improved.”
MC commissioner KK Yadav said the rollback would negatively impact the civic body’s capacity to improve water supply. He also contended that slashing of water tariff hike would benefit only those who are wasting water.
For post-pandemic times, rates revised, sewerage cess slashed
For the post pandemic period, the House decided to slash the hike in two consumption slabs of residential supply. For households with monthly consumption of 31-60 kilolitre, in which most consumers fit, the rate has been cut from ₹12/kl to ₹9/kl. For the top slab, with monthly water consumption over 60kl, it has been slashed to ₹16/kl from ₹24/kl.
Charges for industrial establishments have been cut from ₹30/kl to ₹25/kl (there are no consumptions slabs for them), while for shops and booths, the House has recommended doing away with flat minimum charges and imposition of rates as per actual consumption.
Meanwhile, the hefty sewerage cess has also been proposed to be reduced from 30% of the water bill to just 5%.
When it comes to the annual hike, the UT notification imposed 3% rise in water tariff every year. The House in its latest resolution decided to go for 5% automatic hike on the basic rate after every three years.
Penalty for misuse of drinking water has also been revised. Instead of a flat rate of ₹5,000, it has been stratified. The MC House decided that the first violation will invite a fine of ₹3,000. If there is a second violation within 30 days of the first one, it will lead to ₹5,000 fine, and subsequent ones will also lead to the same fine.